The Ten Maxims

Rise before dawn and offer your prayer and meditation at a fixed hour, preferably completing them before sunrise. Have a separate place and seat for meditation. As far as possible, develop the habit of sitting in one and the same pose. Give special attention to purity of body and mind.

Begin your meditation with a prayer for spiritual elevation. Offer your prayer in such a way that the heart is filled with love.

Fix your Goal, which should be complete oneness with God. Rest not till the ideal is achieved.

Simplify your life so as to be identical with Nature.

Always be truthful, accept miseries as coming from God for your own good and be thankful.

Know all people as thy brethren and treat them as such.

If you are feeling wronged by anyone, do not wish for revenge. Instead, think this comes from God and be grateful.

Be happy to eat in constant Divine thought whatever you get, with due regard to honest and pious earnings.

Mould your behaviour and way of living to such a high order as to rouse a feeling of love and piety in others.

At bedtime, feeling the presence of God, repent for any wrongs committed. Beg forgiveness in a supplicant mood and prayerfully resolve not to allow repetition of the same.

“An archer can never hit the mark unless his attention is fixed on it. An abhyasi needs to be like the archer and keep his attention ever fixed on the goal. ”